CHP officer hurt in Highway 76 pursuit

The officer, working a special traffic enforcement aimed at
motorcyclists, attempted to stop four riders who were illegally
passing other vehicles at about 90 mph on Highway 76, east of Pauma
Valley Road at about 10:16 a.m., CHP spokesman Eric Newbury
said.

During the pursuit, one of the motorcyclists, Donald Rossi, 20,
of Camp Pendleton, reportedly sideswiped a Ford Explorer and
continued eastbound. The officer, whose name was not released,
failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the westbound lane and drove
into a dirt shoulder, ultimately colliding with a dirt fence and
being thrown from his bike, Newbury said.

The officer was taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido
with a deep gash in his left leg and cuts to the head, Newbury
said. He is expected to recover. His motorcycle was demolished.

The four motorcyclists were stopped by another CHP unit farther
east on Highway 76, Newbury said. Rossi and the others, Jonathan
Hardy, 22, of Oceanside, Edward Wallace, 19, of Camp Pendleton and
Eric Mills, 38, of Oceanside, were cited for misdemeanor reckless
driving and released, Newbury said. The incident is under
investigation and other charges may be filed, he said.